As featured on p. 218 of "Bloggers on the Bus," under the name "a MyDD blogger."

Sunday, October 04, 2009

A Friedman Unit For DADT

Gen. James Jones, the President's national security advisor, wants to wait to overturn the military's policy on gay soldiers until "the right time."

KING: You're national security adviser at a time of two wars, in Afghanistan and in Iraq. And there's a big question about a promise the president made in the campaign, ending the "don't ask, don't tell" policy about homosexuals serving openly in the military.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, sent the president a letter this past week in which he says, "At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country. Many members of Congress, like me, support the repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell.' As Congress considers future legislative action, we believe it would be helpful to hear your views on policy."

They want the president to get involved. Is it time now, as soon as possible, to change that policy?

JONES: The -- the president has an awful lot on -- on his desk. I know this is an issue that he intends to take on at the appropriate time. And he has already signaled that to the Defense Department. The Defense Department is doing the things it has to do to prepare, but at the right time, I'm sure the president will take it on.

KING: No idea when the right time is?

JONES: I don't think it's going to be -- it's not years, but I think -- I think it will be teed up appropriately.

I don't think this is as bad as John Aravosis makes it out to be, but it's not great. Jones could just as easily taken the same approach as Harry Reid, saying that the fact that we're in two wars is an argument FOR ending a bad policy as quickly as possible. Instead, Jones argued that things must be done at the appropriate time. In other words, wait a Friedman Unit or two, and we'll see then.

If anything else was happening to expand gay rights consistent with Obama's promises for more equality in America, maybe this could be excused. But he's not.